Sept. 13, 2016
By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - Lynn Johnson was so worn out after Tiger Walk, he needed a second to catch his breath.
"It's the same feeling. It just fires you up," said Johnson, a former All-SEC offensive lineman. "This was the most exciting thing I've had happen in 40 years, with the exception of my kids and grandkids being born."
The upperclassmen from Auburn's 1976 team are in their sixties, now. The freshmen from that team, like Joe Cribbs and Freddie Smith, are 58.
"In athletics, it's really about when you connect," Cribbs said. "I've seen guys who I haven't seen in 40 years. And you see them, it's like we're right back to where we were. It's been great. Seeing some of the guys who I haven't seen in a while, and reconnecting."
Auburn's 1976 team celebrated its 40th reunion Saturday. Tiger Walk, an on-field recognition. A pregame autograph session.
"It's just the greatest feeling," Johnson said. "I'm so glad they put all of this together."
Lynn Johnson, 4th from left, was an All-SEC offensive lineman at Auburn." style="width:100%; height:auto;" class="imported_image" legacy-link="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_a_storywide/12093716.jpeg"> Lynn Johnson, 4th from left, was an All-SEC offensive lineman at Auburn.
Johnson didn't think many people would want autographs from guys who played four decades ago. He was wrong.
For an hour, Auburn fans of all ages came by, with football cards for Johnson and his teammates to sign.
" style="width:100%; height:auto;" class="imported_image" legacy-link="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_a_storywide/12093710.jpeg">Kerryon Johnson with Joe Cribbs.
Johnson helped create running room for three future NFL backs, Cribbs, William Andrews, and James Brooks, who would arrive in '77. Talk about "Running Back U."
"We had those three guys, we didn't have to block very many," Johnson said. "They dodged everybody."
Cribbs was a three-time Pro Bowler in the NFL, but as a freshman in '76, he didn't make the travelling squad until backs ahead of him were injured.
"Once I got I into the lineup, I wasn't going to give it back." @FootballAU legendary RB Joe Cribbs on '76 Tigers. pic.twitter.com/j5DFolkOWc
-- Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) September 10, 2016
"Once I got into the lineup, I wasn't going to give it back, so I just kind of held on to it from that point on," said Cribbs, adding that the Auburn teams on which he played laid the foundation for good things to come.
Before leading the way at Tiger Walk, which Johnson says is a much bigger deal now than it was in his day when the players walked to Jordan-Hare Stadium from Sewell Hall, Auburn's 1976 team gathered in the Rane Room at the Athletics Complex.
When Smith, a freshman linebacker in '76 from Athens, walked in, he immediately embraced the man who recruited him to Auburn, Coach Doug Barfield.
40 years later, the bonds between coach & player are still strong. Doug Barfield with Freddie Smith at '76 reunion. pic.twitter.com/5Yjox7kMFg
-- Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) September 10, 2016
"It was probably one of the greatest experiences that I ever had," Smith said. "As a young guy, leaving home, coming this way. And everybody made me welcome here. That's the greatest part that I had. That's what made me so comfortable here."
Barfield had big shoes to fill in '76. Shug Jordan had coached Auburn for 25 years. His name was on the stadium.
"Well, my timing wasn't good," Barfield reminisced. "To replace Coach Jordan, and before the million-dollar salaries."
Doug Barfield, Auburn's offensive coordinator in 1974-75, replaced Coach Shug Jordan in 1976." style="width:100%; height:auto;" class="imported_image" legacy-link="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_a_storywide/12093689.jpeg"> Doug Barfield, Auburn's offensive coordinator in 1974-75, replaced Coach Shug Jordan in 1976.
Barfield said Auburn "beat a lot of good people" in his five seasons.
More than 50 players came back for their 40-year reunion. One by one, they visited with their head coach, and took pictures with teammates, wives, children and grandchildren.
"It's really great to see these guys," Barfield said. "I'm just happy for them that they got to come back, and be recognized, because they did a lot of good things. A lot of good people, and it's just my pleasure to be around them all."
"I'm just happy for them that they get to come back and be recognized. They did a lot of good things." Doug Barfield pic.twitter.com/QN68mbTWku
-- Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) September 10, 2016
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer